Part 14 (1/2)

Now Ospakar's son Mord hears, and he grows e He holds his shi+eld aloft and rushes on But Gizur the Lawrim turns to meet Mord, but Eric says:--

”This one for hty blow Eric's shi+eld is all shattered and cannot stay it It crashes through and falls full on the golden helain and blows fall thick and fast Mord is a strong row faint and his strength sinks low Mord sain and wounds him somewhat on the shoulder

Eric throws aside his cloven shi+eld and, shouting, plies Whitefire with both arives before hiain he rushes and lo! Brighteyes has dropped his point, and it stands a full span through the back of Mord, and instantly that was his bane

Now men rush to their horses,that these are trolls whorim sees, and the Baresark fit takes hi as he comes There is one man, the same whom he had wounded He cannot mount easily, and when the Baresark coreat axe wheels on high and falls, and it is told of this stroke that it was so h and through Then the fit leaves Skallagrim and he walks back, and they are alone with the dead and dying

Eric leans on Whitefire and speaks:

”Get thee gone, Skallagrione!”

”It shall be as thou wilt, lord,” answered the Baresark; ”but I have not befriended thee so ill that thou shouldst fear for blows to come”

”I will keep no rim What did I bid thee? Was it not that thou shouldst have done with the Baresark ways, and where thou stoodest there thou shouldst bide? and see: thou didst forget one!”

”It is true, lord,” he said ”He who serves rim turned to seek his horse

”Stay,” said Eric; ”thou art a gallant ive thee: but cross oes hence wounded We have got honour, and they loss and the greatest shame

Nevertheless, ill shall come of this to me, for Ospakar has ainst ,[] and thou didst draw the first blood”

[] The annual assembly of free men which, in Iceland, performed the functions of a Parliament and Supreone rim

”Ospakar's ti by which to bear us in mind”

IX

HOW SWANHILD DEALT WITH GUDRUDA

Now Jon, Eric's thrall, watched all night on Mosfell, but saw nothing except the light of Whitefire as it smote the Baresark's head froht,sure that Eric was slain, Jon rode hard and fast for Middalhof, whither he ca by the women's door She strained her eyes towards Mosfell to catch the light glealeamed indeed, white not red

”See,” said Swanhild at her side, ”Eric comes!”

”Not Eric, but his thrall,” answered Gudruda, ”to tell us that Eric is sped”

They waited in silence while Jon galloped towards thehteyes?” cried Swanhild

”Little need to ask,” said Gudruda, ”look at his face”

Now Jon told his tale and Gudruda listened, clinging to the door post